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UGC Approved Sr. No.48612, OCT- NOV 2017, VOL- 4/24
https://doi.org/10.21922/srjhsel.v4i24.10409

STRESS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN RELATION TO THEIR GENDER AND

REGION OF RESIDENCE

Kamal Upreti
Research scholar, S. S. J. Campus Almora, Kumaun University, Nainital

Stress among adolescents is a topic of concern for educationalist and psychologist. Adolescents feel
stress due to various factors including home and school environment. The present study was
conducted to find out the stress felt by adolescents of different gender and region of residence.
Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find out whether there is any significant difference
between the adolescents of different gender, and region of residence with respect to stress.
Hypotheses: 1.There is no significant difference between adolescent boys and girls with respect to
stress 2.There is significant mean difference between rural and urban adolescents with respect to
stress. Sample: Sample of the present study consist 100 students from different schools of Almora
district. Tools: Dr. Zaki Akhatar’s STUDENT STRESS SCALE SSS-AZ was used for data collection.
Result: Results shows that there is no significant difference in stress experienced by adolescent boys
and girls. Rural adolescent are also not significantly different with urban adolescents in experiencing
stress.
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Introduction:
World scenario is changing very fast. This is the time of globalisation when whole
world is available in one click. Intense use of technology has made life easier and shortens the
distance but on the other side of coin, expectation level and demands of human beings are
accelerating in same way. Every person is busy in fulfilling these demands. Failure of coping
with demands and high aspiration leads to stress specially in adolescents. Adolescence is a
critical phase of human life when he/she transits from puberty to maturity. Physically,
psychologically, physiologically and sociologically changes occur in this period. Adolescents
especially girl adolescents are enforced by the society to behave in a particular manner and
follow the norms established by the society. The socio-economic status, personal factor,
school and home environment affect their growth and development and they struggle to
establish their own identity. During these transactions when their demands exceed the
personal and social resources they feel stress. Stress is defined as a state of psychological
arousal that results when external demands tax or exceed a person’s adaptive abilities
(Lazarus,1966). Stress affects the mind; body and behaviour in many ways and everyone

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 Kamal Upreti
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experience stress differently (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). The psychological symptoms of
stress are: decrease in concentration, moodiness, irritation, short tempered, poor judgment,
agitation, inability to relax, increase negativity, feeling overwhelmed, anxious or racing
thoughts, sense of loneliness and isolation, constant worrying, and depression. The
interpersonal skills of adolescents need to communicate across ethnic; gender and religious
boundaries are changing. Experience of unresolved feeling of inferiority produce identity
crisis in adolescents that disrupt their self (Erickson, 1968).Negative formation of identity
make their transition difficult and critical and they feel stress. Present study examines the
stress experiences by adolescents of different gender and region of residence.
Review of Literature-
Bartwal and Raj (2014) found no significant gender differences with regard to stress
among rural and urban adolescents. Mathew and Jayan (2006) observed boys and the
girls of the age group of 15-17 years were not significantly different with respect to their
Academic stress. Huan, et.al (2005) found the role of optimism together with gender, on
students’ perception of academic stress. Four hundred and thirty secondary school students
from Singapore participated in this study and data were collected using two self-report
measures: the Life Orientation Test and the Academic Expectations Stress Inventory.
Results showed Gender was not a significant predictor of academic stress . Singh and
Upadhyay (2008) investigated academic stress in the context of age and sex differences
among college students. They found female students had more stress in comparison of
their male counterpart. Naresh Kumar (2008) conducted a study on sources of academic
stress and their influence on the scholastic achievement; he found that – (i) the urban
students were significantly different on stress in compare to rural students. Urban student
were found significantly higher in their level of stress as compared to the rural area
students.
Methodology
This section gives an account of the objectives, hypothesis, research sample and the research
tool that were used for data collection.
Statement of the problem
‘Stress among Adolescents in relation to their gender and region of residence’.
Objectives 1. To study whether there is significant difference between adolescent boys and
girls with regard to stress.

Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

 Kamal Upreti
(Pg. 6630-6633) 6632

2. To find out whether there is significant difference between rural and urban adolescents
with regard to stress.
Hypotheses: 1.There is no significant difference between adolescent boys and girls with
respect to stress.
2. There is no significant difference between rural and urban adolescents with respect to
stress.
Data Collection:
The sample of study comprised a group of 100 adolescents selected from 4 government
schools of Almora district. Dr. Zaki Akhatar’s STUDENT STRESS SCALE SSS-AZ was
used for data collection. To analyze the data, mean S.D and t-test were used by the
investigator.
Analysis and interpretation of data
Hypothesis 1.
Table-1 Comparison of stress among adolescents on bsis of Gender.

Gender N Mean S.D ‘t’value D.f. P value

Girls 44 165.59 14.397 1.178 98 .242
Boys 56 161.05 22.114

Table-1 reveals that t-value is 1.178 that is not significant at .o5 level of significance. Based
on the average score of stress the adolescent girl having slightly higher stress than adolescent
boys but difference is not significant at 5%level. Hence it agrees to the given hypothesis that
there is no significant difference between adolescent boys and girls with respect to stress.
Hypothesis 2.
Table-2 Comparison of stress among adolescents on basis of region of residence.
Cast
N Mean S.D ‘t’value D.f. P
value
Rural 30 165.83 18.636 .951 98 .344

Urban 70 161.86 19.379

Table-2 reveals that t-value is .951 that is not significant at .o5 level of significance. Based
on the average score of stress the rural adolescent having slightly higher stress than urban
adolescents but difference is not significant at 5%level. Hence it agrees to the given
hypothesis that there is no significant difference between rural and urban adolescents with
respect to stress.

Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

 Kamal Upreti
(Pg. 6630-6633) 6633

Conclusion:
Above study concludes that there is no significant difference between adolescent boys and
girls with regard to stress. However adolescent girls were found to be under more stress. In
case of rural and urban adolescents it was found that there is no significant difference
between rural and urban adolescents with regard to stress. Rural adolescents were found to be
under more stress. So efforts should be made to help them to cope up with the stressors. If the
level of stress reduces, the mental fitness among adolescents will increase. The findings of
the present study have important implications for awakening parents, teachers and society
towards the aspect of stress especially in girls and rural adolescents. Parents and society
should provide a healthy environment to adolescents. Equal opportunity should be given to
both boys and girls. Teachers can play an important role in reducing stress. They should
motivate and prepare adolescents to face the challenges of upcoming life. They should help
them in achieving the aim of life. Parents and teachers should ensure that adolescents should
not feel overloaded with work as it may increase the stress.
References:
Bartwal, R. S. & Raj, A. (2014). Academic stress among school going adolescents in relation to their
social intelligence. Indian Streams Research Journal, 4(2), 1-6.
Erikson, E. (1968), Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: Norton.
Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1986). Stress processes and depressive symptomatology. Journal of
Abnormal Psychology, 95, 107-113. doi: 002I-843X/86/
Huan, V.S, Yeo, L.S, Ang, R.P, & Chong, W.H.(2005).The influence of dispositional optimism and
gender on adolescents perceptions’ perception of academic stress. Adolescence, 41,533-546.
Lazarus, R.S.(1966),Psychological Stress and the Coping Process,
Mathew, B &Jayan, C. (2006). Academic stress and coping styles among plus-two students. Indian
Psychol. Rev., 66(1): 41-48
Naresh Kumar, G. (2008). Need to boost Primary Pupil Scholastic Achievement – A
Strategy of Education for all. Indian Educational Review, Vol.38 (1) pp.115=121
Singh A. & Upadhyay A. (2008). Age and sex differences in academic stress among college
students. Social Science International, 24(1), 78-88.

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